Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the morning of July 18, President Lai Ching-te met with international and Taiwanese members of the organizing committee for the 2024 Junior Chamber International (JCI) World Congress. In remarks, President Lai said that Taiwan will host this year’s JCI World Congress, adding that young leaders from many nations will focus on such issues as entrepreneurship and innovation, green economy, and carbon emissions reduction under the event’s theme, “Technological Innovation for a Prosperous and Sustainable Future.” The president thanked JCI for supporting Taiwan and expressed his hope for Taiwan to harness the power for change through this event, as we work together to make the world a better place. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: In October, Taiwan will host the 2024 JCI World Congress. Over the past several years, I have enjoyed many interactions with partners from JCI, and I am delighted to be able to welcome you all to the Presidential Office today. I wish the congress great success and thank all of our JCI partners for their contributions. Over the years, JCI Taiwan has been actively involved in public affairs. Its Ten Outstanding Young Persons award encourages young people to contribute even more to society. It was an honor for me to serve as chairman of the panel of judges for the awards and to work with JCI in promoting this meaningful event.  As one of the world’s four major international service organizations, JCI continues to marshal the forces of its 350,000-strong global membership and community resources to promote global development. The 2024 JCI World Congress in October will bring together more than 6,000 people from 120 countries. The event will see young leaders from these nations focus on such issues as entrepreneurship and innovation, green economy, and carbon emissions reduction under its theme, “Technological Innovation for a Prosperous and Sustainable Future.” I understand that JCI President Kaveen Kumar Kumaravel’s vision for his fellow members is “Let’s make a difference!” We are delighted to welcome the president and thank him for helping facilitate Taiwan’s hosting of this year’s world congress, so that we can harness the power for change as we work together to make the world a better place. In closing, I want to extend my special thanks to JCI Chung-Li for winning the bid for Taiwan’s right to host the world congress. And I thank all of our guests once again for supporting Taiwan. I wish you a successful visit and the very best for the JCI World Congress. Also in attendance at the meeting was JCI Secretary General Kevin Hin.

On the morning of October 16, President Tsai Ing-wen delivered recorded remarks at an awards ceremony for outstanding young overseas compatriots. President Tsai praised the award winners for leading the way in people-to-people diplomacy, saying that they not only are very accomplished in their own professions, but they have also helped Taiwanese business organizations worldwide flourish. The president added that she looks forward to seeing even more outstanding young expatriates excelling in various fields, continuing to help Taiwan engage with the world, and making our country a truly global Taiwan. The following is a translation of President Tsai's remarks: First, I want to congratulate all the award winners for being selected as the ten outstanding young overseas compatriots. I also want to thank the Overseas Compatriot Culture and Education Foundation for organizing these awards over the past several years to commend overseas Taiwanese for their accomplishments while also sharing their experiences with even more people. Each awardee has expertise in different areas and is highly influential. Mr. Benjamin Chou (周浩恩) developed the first ever drive-thru voting system in Texas, USA. His innovation helped keep voters safe from COVID-19 while enabling citizens to exercise their right to vote. Chou is an outstanding example in both the political and public spheres. In the field of law, Ms. Wendy Chang (張文綺) in Paraguay, Mr. Danny Chen (陳啟耕) in California, USA, and Mr. Chih-Po Albert Huang (黃志博) in South Africa have long used their legal expertise to provide expatriates with consultations and services. They have all made enormous contributions to advancing the rights and interests of overseas Taiwanese. In the field of finance, Mr. Peter C.L. Lin (林敬倫) not only teaches in the Financial Mathematics program at Johns Hopkins University, he also founded a financial technology company that has facilitated innovation in Taiwanese industries. There are five award winners in the field of commerce. Ms. Ray Jan (冉瑞宜) has spent many years in California dedicated to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises run by people of Asian descent, while also making considerable contributions to the women's rights movement. Mr. Hao-Wei Chen (陳浩維) has excelled in information security, and founded a Taiwan affinity group at Amazon to promote Taiwanese culture. Mr. Richard Tseng (曾遠喆) organized the Indonesia Taiwan Chambers of Commerce Junior Chapter to promote exchanges with young Indonesian businesspeople, helping to implement our New Southbound Policy. In France, Ms. Huang Kai-lin (黃凱琳) has worked to actively build bridges between Taiwanese businesses and other countries in her role as president of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce Junior Chapter. And in Australia, Mr. Frank Chang (張戴麒) has served as chief officer of the Melbourne Taiwan Festival, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors, successfully enhancing Taiwan's image. We are working to engage with the world, with these award winners leading the way for our people-to-people diplomacy. They not only are very accomplished in their own professions, they have also helped Taiwanese business organizations worldwide flourish. I want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication. I hope that in the future there will be even more outstanding young expatriates who can, like all of you, excel in their chosen fields while continuing to help Taiwan engage with the world and turn our country into a global Taiwan. I look forward to making more progress together. Thank you!

While transiting in New York on her Journey of Freedom, Democracy, and Sustainability, President Tsai Ing-wen went for a stroll with young Taiwan-Americans in New York City's Central Park on the morning of July 13 (evening Taipei time). New York is an important global center for business, finance, culture, and art, attracting many young Taiwanese-Americans who live, study, and work there. Their stroll gave the president an opportunity to really understand their work situations and lifestyles, and share what she has learned on her journey and her vision for the future of Taiwan. President Tsai took part in this event hoping to encourage young Taiwanese-Americans to develop their professional expertise, and establish more international connections for themselves and Taiwan, by participating in activities of all kinds.   During their stroll, the Taiwanese-American young people welcomed the president with enthusiasm, and their interactions were warm and friendly. President Tsai graciously took group photos, and signed T-shirts and photos to keep as souvenirs. The president, accompanied by American Institute in Taiwan Chairman James Moriarty, then headed for Pier 62 where they boarded a boat for some sight-seeing on the Hudson River, passing the various riverbank parks, One World Trade Center, Wall Street and the Financial District, Ellis Island, Governor's Island, and the Statue of Liberty—symbol of freedom and democracy. Among those attending the event were National Security Council Secretary-General David T. Lee (李大維), Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Representative to the United States Stanley Kao (高碩泰), Taoyuan City Mayor Cheng Wen-Tsan (鄭文燦), and Legislators Kuan, Bi-Ling (管碧玲), Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟), and Lo Chih-Cheng (羅致政). After wrapping up her New York City transit stop at noon, President Tsai departed for Taiwan's diplomatic ally, the Republic of Haiti.

During a meeting with 2018 "International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program" and "Young Agricultural Ambassadors New Southbound Policy Exchange Program" participants on the morning of October 19, President Tsai Ing-wen said that the momentum to drive continuous innovation and forward progress in Taiwan will come from young people's completely new way of thinking. She urged the youth ambassadors to maintain their enthusiasm, and bring positive creativity and inspiration to the government's ongoing diplomatic work. President Tsai started her remarks by welcoming the youth ambassadors to the Presidential Office, and noted that her visitors included three different groups of participants in the "International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program" organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One group had traveled to the Solomon Islands and Thailand, another to Palau and the Philippines, and the third to Tuvalu and India. Also on hand, she noted, were participants in the "Young Agricultural Ambassadors New Southbound Policy Exchange Program" co-organized by the Council of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who had been sent to Vietnam and Malaysia, many of whom were selected for recognition as members of Taiwan's outstanding "Hundred Young Farmers." President Tsai pointed out that since taking office she has made five state visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies, and wanted to share two important things she learned from her participation in diplomatic work. The first was that we are often compared to our larger neighbors when talking about regional politics or history, but on a global scale, Taiwan is a country with a significant presence and considerable strengths. That means we should have confidence in ourselves. The second thing she learned is that Taiwan can contribute to the world. Our experience pursuing democracy and economic development successes set a good example for many other countries. President Tsai went on to say that in a more concrete sense, Taiwan is also a top global competitor in the fields of agriculture, education, healthcare, and technology. Whenever she has visited Taiwan's allies and interacted with our medical and technical missions stationed overseas, she has personally witnessed that kind of strength, which can definitely benefit the global community and make the world a better place. So as long as we are bold and go out into the world, the president said, the world will engage with us. The way Taiwan makes friends is by contributing its experience and technologies. President Tsai said that the assembled youth ambassadors were all doing important diplomatic work this past summer. This year, she said, we focused on in-depth exchanges to create connections for agricultural production and marketing and technology cooperation in countries targeted by Taiwan's New Southbound Policy. The results of those efforts have been quite good, and on behalf of the government, the president thanked everyone for their hard work. President Tsai said she was happy to learn that the Young Agricultural Ambassadors included a second-generation Taiwanese citizen of Vietnamese descent, and a Vietnamese man who married into a Taiwanese family, and one of the International Youth Ambassadors was a Taiwanese student who grew up in Thailand. People-centered exchanges are the foundation of Taiwan's efforts to enhance ties with neighboring Asian countries, and she thanked everyone for participating. In closing, President Tsai offered encouragement to the young people on hand, saying that their new ways of thinking are often the source of momentum driving the nation's continuous innovation and forward progress. She then expressed hope that, after expanding their horizons as youth ambassadors, the participants would maintain enthusiasm and bring positive creativity and new inspiration to the government's ongoing diplomatic efforts. Following her remarks, the president listened to the youth ambassadors as they described their overseas exchange experiences.

President Tsai Ing-wen met with the 2018 Mosaic Taiwan fellows on the morning of June 20. The president explained that although political factors make it difficult for Taiwan to participate in the international community, we will continue our active cooperation and dialogue with the international community, share our experiences, and contribute our knowledge and expertise to the world. She hopes that when the fellows return home, they'll share their impressions and perspectives about Taiwan with their friends and become "Taiwan Insiders" in the United States and Canada. President Tsai first welcomed the young people from the United States and Canada, all of whom came to Taiwan because of their passion for public and international affairs. She mentioned that this was their first visit to Taiwan, and that over the past week or so, they had participated in many different classes and cultural activities. The president said that she's sure they understand a bit more about Taiwan, and that she's equally sure that they liked what they saw. President Tsai told the fellows that although political factors make it difficult for Taiwan to participate in the international community, the international community cannot--and will not—miss out on what Taiwan has to offer. Our region, and the international community, are well aware of Taiwan's history of successful economic development and democratic transformation. We're now also implementing industrial upgrade and transformation policies, she said, and we're one of the few Asian countries taking concrete action to address transitional justice issues. As part of the international community, the president stated, Taiwan wants to share its developmental experience, and contribute our knowledge and expertise to the world. But for some time now, China has subjected Taiwan to political interference and suppression. Fortunately, the people of Taiwan have also received tremendous support from many like-minded countries. But as external suppression gets stronger, so does Taiwan's determination to engage with the world. And we will continue our active cooperation and dialogue with the international community. President Tsai then cited examples of Taiwan's frequent interaction and cooperation with the United States and Canada. In November of last year, she said, Taiwan became the 12th country in the world, and the third country in Asia, to become part of the US Global Entry Program. This April, we also reached reciprocal driver's license agreements with all ten Canadian provinces. These agreements, she said, will have a positive impact on government and people-to-people exchanges between Taiwan and the United States, and Taiwan and Canada.  In closing, the president expressed hope that based on their research and experiences here, the visitors will all be "Taiwan Insiders" in their home countries. So when they return home, she asked them to share their impressions and perspectives about Taiwan with their friends.

On the morning of January 1, President Lai Ching-te delivered his 2025 New Year’s Address, titled “Bolstering National Strength through Democracy to Enter a New Global Landscape,” in the Reception Hall of the Presidential Office. President Lai stated that today’s Taiwan is receiving international recognition for its performance in many areas, among them democracy, technology, and economy. In this new year, he said, Taiwan must be united, and we must continue on the right course. The president expressed hope that everyone in the central and local governments, regardless of party, can work hard together, allowing Taiwan sure footing as it strides forward toward ever greater achievements.  President Lai emphasized that in 2025, we must keep firm on the path of democracy, continue to bolster our national strength, make Taiwan more economically resilient, enhance the resilience of supply chains for global democracies, and continue working toward a Balanced Taiwan and generational justice, ensuring that the fruits of our economic growth can be enjoyed by all our people. The president said that Taiwan will keep going strong, and we will keep walking tall as we enter the new global landscape. A translation of President Lai’s address follows: Today is the first day of 2025. With a new year comes new beginnings. I wish that Taiwan enjoys peace, prosperity, and success, and that our people lead happy lives. Taiwan truly finished 2024 strong. Though there were many challenges, there were also many triumphs. We withstood earthquakes and typhoons, and stood firm in the face of constant challenges posed by authoritarianism. We also shared glory as Taiwan won the Premier12 baseball championship, and now Taiwanese people around the world are all familiar with the gesture for Team Taiwan. At the Paris Olympics, Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and Lee Yang (李洋) clinched another gold in men’s doubles badminton. Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) took home Taiwan’s first Olympic gold in boxing. At the International Junior Science Olympiad, every student in our delegation of six won a gold medal. And Yang Shuang-zi’s (楊双子) novel Taiwan Travelogue, translated into English by King Lin (金翎), became a United States National Book Award winner and a tour de force of Taiwan literature on the international level. Our heroes of Taiwan are defined by neither age nor discipline. They have taken home top prizes at international competitions and set new records. They tell Taiwan’s story through their outstanding performances, letting the world see the spirit and culture of Taiwan, and filling all our citizens with pride. My fellow citizens, we have stood together through thick and thin; we have shared our ups and downs. We have wept together, and we have laughed together. We are all one family, all members of Team Taiwan. I want to thank each of our citizens for their dedication, fueling Taiwan’s progress and bringing our nation glory. You have given Taiwan even greater strength to stand out on the global stage. In this new year, we must continue bringing Taiwan’s stories to the world, and make Taiwan’s successes a force for global progress. In 2025, the world will be entering a new landscape. Last year, over 70 countries held elections, and the will of the people has changed with the times. As many countries turn new pages politically, and in the midst of rapid international developments, Taiwan must continue marching forward with steady strides. First, we must keep firm on the path of democracy. Taiwan made it through a dark age of authoritarianism and has since become a glorious beacon of democracy in Asia. This was achieved through the sacrifices of our democratic forebears and the joint efforts of all our citizens. Democracy’s value to Taiwan lies not just in our free way of life, or in the force driving the diverse and vigorous growth of our society. Democracy is the brand that has earned us international trust in terms of diplomacy. No matter the threat or challenge Taiwan may face, democracy is Taiwan’s only path forward. We will not turn back. Domestic competition among political parties is a part of democracy. But domestic political disputes must be resolved democratically, within the constitutional system. This is the only way democracy can continue to grow. The Executive Yuan has the right to request a reconsideration of the controversial bills passed in the Legislative Yuan, giving it room for reexamination. Constitutional institutions can also lodge a petition for a constitutional interpretation, and through Constitutional Court adjudication, ensure a separation of powers, safeguard constitutional order, and gradually consolidate the constitutional system. The people also have the right of election, recall, initiative, and referendum, and can bring together even greater democratic power to show the true meaning of sovereignty in the hands of the people. In this new year, the changing international landscape will present democratic nations around the world with many grave challenges. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and conflict between Israel and Hamas rage on, and we are seeing the continued convergence of authoritarian regimes including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, threatening the rules-based international order and severely affecting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the world at large. Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. Taiwan needs to prepare for danger in times of peace. We must continue increasing our national defense budget, bolster our national defense capabilities, and show our determination to protect our country. Everyone has a responsibility to safeguard Taiwan’s democracy and security. We must gather together every bit of strength we have to enhance whole-of-society defense resilience, and build capabilities to respond to major disasters and deter threats or encroachment. We must also strengthen communication with society to combat information and cognitive warfare, so that the populace rejects threats and enticements and jointly guards against malicious infiltration by external forces. Here at home, we must consolidate democracy with democracy. Internationally, we must make friends worldwide through democracy. This is how we will ensure security and peace. The more secure Taiwan, the more secure the world. The more resilient Taiwan, the sounder the defense of global democracy. The global democratic community should work even closer together to support the democratic umbrella as we seek ways to resolve the war in Ukraine and conflict between Israel and Hamas. Together, we must uphold stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific, and achieve our goal of global peace. Second, we must continue to bolster our national strength, make Taiwan more economically resilient, and enhance the resilience of supply chains for global democracies. In the first half of 2024, growth in the Taiwan Stock Index was the highest in the world. Our economic growth rate for the year as a whole is expected to reach 4.2 percent, leading among the Four Asian Tigers. Domestic investment is soaring, having exceeded NT$5 trillion, and inflation is gradually stabilizing. Export orders from January to November totaled US$536.6 billion, up 3.7 percent from the same period in 2023. And compared over the same period, exports saw a 9.9 percent increase, reaching US$431.5 billion. Recent surveys also show that in 2024, the average increase in salaries at companies was higher than that in 2023. Additionally, over 90 percent of companies plan to raise salaries this year, which is an eight-year high. All signs indicate that Taiwan’s economic climate continues to recover, and that our economy is growing steadily. Our overall economic performance is impressive; still, we must continue to pay attention to the impact on Taiwan’s industries from the changing geopolitical landscape, uncertainties in the global economic environment, and dumping by the “red supply chain.”  For a nation, all sectors and professions are equally important; only when all our industries are strong can Taiwan be strong as a nation. Our micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the lifeblood of Taiwan, and the development of our various industrial parks has given Taiwan the impetus for our prosperity. We must carry the spirit of “Made in Taiwan” forward, bringing it to ever greater heights. Thus, beyond just developing our high-tech industry, our Executive Yuan has already proposed a solution that will help traditional industries and MSMEs comprehensively adopt technology applications, engage in the digital and net-zero twin transition, and develop channels, all for better operational structures and higher productivity. Taiwan must continue enhancing its economic resilience. In recent years, Taiwan has significantly increased its investments in the US, Japan, Europe, and the New Southbound countries, and such investment has already surpassed investment in China. This indicates that our efforts in diversifying markets and reducing reliance on any single market are working. Moving forward, we must keep providing assistance so that Taiwan industries can expand their global presence and market internationally from a solid base here in Taiwan. At the same time, Taiwan must use democracy to promote economic growth with the rest of the world. We must leverage our strengths in the semiconductor and AI industries. We must link with democratic countries so that we can together enhance the resilience of supply chains for global democracies. And through international cooperation across many sectors, such as UAVs, low-orbit communications satellites, robots, military, security and surveillance, or biopharmaceuticals, renewable energy technology, new agriculture, and the circular economy, we must keep abreast of the latest cutting-edge technology and promote diverse development. This approach will help Taiwan remain a leader in advancing global democratic supply chains, ensuring their security and stability. Third, we must continue working toward a Balanced Taiwan and generational justice, ensuring that the fruits of our economic growth can be enjoyed by all our people. Democracy means the people have the final say. Our nation belongs to all 23 million of us, without regard for ethnic group, generation, political party, or whether we live in urban or rural areas. In this new year, we must continue to pursue policies that promote the well-being of the nation and the people. But to that end, the central government needs adequate financial resources to ensure that it can enact each of these measures. Therefore, I hope that the ruling and opposition parties can each soberly reconsider the amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures and find a path forward that ensures the lasting peace and stability of our country. For nine consecutive years, the minimum wage has continued to rise. Effective today, the minimum monthly salary is being raised from NT$27,470 to NT$28,590, and the hourly salary from NT$183 to NT$190. We hope by raising the pay for military personnel, civil servants, and educators for two consecutive years, coupled with benefits through wage increases and tax reductions, that private businesses will also raise wages, allowing all our people to enjoy the fruits of our economic growth. I know that everyone wants to pay lower taxes and rent. This year, we will continue to promote tax reductions. For example, unmarried individuals with an annual income of NT$446,000 or less can be exempt from paying income tax. Dual-income families with an annual income of NT$892,000 or less and dual-income families with two children aged six or younger with an annual income of NT$1,461,000 or less are also exempt from paying income tax. Additionally, the number of rent-subsidized housing units will also be increased, from 500,000 to 750,000 units, helping lighten the load for everyone. This year, the age eligibility for claiming Culture Points has been lowered from 16 to 13 years, so that now young people aged between 13 and 22 can receive government support for experiencing more in the arts. Also, our Ten-Billion-Dollar Youth Overseas Dream Fund is about to take effect, which will help more young people in Taiwan realize their dreams by taking part in education and exchange activities in many places around the world. We are also in the process of establishing a sports ministry to help young athletes achieve their dreams on the field, court, and beyond. The ministry will also be active in developing various sports industries and bringing sports and athletics more into the lives of the people, making our people healthier as a result. This year, as Taiwan becomes a “super-aged society,” we will launch our Long-term Care 3.0 Plan to provide better all-around care for our seniors. And we will expand the scope of cancer screening eligibility and services, all aimed at creating a Healthy Taiwan. In addition, Taiwan will officially begin collecting fees for its carbon fee system today. This brings us closer in line with global practices and helps us along the path to our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. We will also continue on the path to achieving a Balanced Taiwan. Last month, the Executive Yuan launched the Trillion NT Dollar Investment National Development Plan and its six major regional flagship projects. Both of these initiatives will continue to expand the investment in our public infrastructure and the development of local specialty industries, narrowing urban-rural and wealth gaps so that all our people can live and work in peace and happiness. My fellow citizens, today’s Taiwan is receiving international recognition for its performance in many areas, among them democracy, technology, and economy. This tells us that national development is moving in the right direction. In this new year, Taiwan must be united, and we must continue on the right course. We hope that everyone in the central and local governments, regardless of party, can work hard together to ensure that national policies are successfully implemented, with the people’s well-being as our top priority. This will allow Taiwan sure footing as it strides forward toward ever greater achievements. In this new year, we have many more brilliant stories of Taiwan to share with the world, inspiring all Taiwanese, both here and around the world, to cheer time and again for the glory of Taiwan. Taiwan will keep going strong. And we will keep walking tall as we enter the new global landscape. Thank you.